Be Amazing! Toy Not So Amazing

Approximately 15,000 units of Monster Science Colossal Water Balls (model #7255) and Super Star Science! Colossal Water Balls (model #7704) have been recalled, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the company announced July 31, calling the toys a "serious ingestion hazard." These are blue, green, orange, purple, red, yellow or clear balls about the size of a marble that absorb water and grow up to 400 times larger than their original size.

What could go wrong with such an Amazing! product?

The Monster Science packages contain eight balls and "Growth Powder." Super Star Science! packages contain five balls. There is a "Be Amazing! Toys" star logo, and "Ages 8+," the name of the toy, "Colossal Water Balls," and a warning not to use without adult supervision on the front of the package.

While CPSC's news release says no incidents or injuries have been reported, it also says CPSC "is aware of one incident with a similar water-absorbing polymer ball product in which an 8-month-old girl ingested the ball and it had to be surgically removed." Consumers who bought the toys are urged to contact Be Amazing! Toys at 877-798-9795 or www.beamazingtoys.com for a refund. They were sold by specialty retailers, education centers nationwide, and online at Amazon.com from September 2010 through November 2012 for about $3 per package.

"The soft and colorful product can be easily mistaken by a child for candy. When the marble-sized toy is ingested, it can expand inside a child’s body and cause intestinal obstructions, resulting in severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration and could be life threatening. The toys do not show up on an x-ray and require surgery to be removed from the body," CPSC's recall release states.